COLUMNS

People and organizations are increasingly seeking solutions that not only reduce negative environmental impacts but ensure positive contributions to the long-term health of people and the planet. Forest certification utilizes a set of…

Consumer Reports has released its first-ever ratings of kitchen appliance brands. The 2026 rankings are for cooktops, ranges, wall ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators. LG emerged as the top brand in several categories and is consistently…

Businesses are generally made up of a number of groups of employees from superstar top performers to toxic troublemakers. They all need to be managed differently because they’re not ‘wired’ the same. Here are the four main types and how to…

These days, people scroll more than they stroll. For brands in the home goods sector, that means your presence on social media isn’t optional. It’s where inspiration strikes, customers do their homework and loyalty begins.

At the end of each year, design minds forecast trends for the ensuing 12 months. Canadian furniture wholesaler and retailer Moe’s Home Collection surveyed nearly 500 interior designers, retailers and buyers to capture their insights on…

The built environment is rife with sensory stimuli that can pose barriers to people who could be valuable contributors in the workplace. An estimated 15 to 20% of people in North America identify as neurodivergent, but this figure likely…

In the Okanagan’s mid to high-end residential market, Amber Millwork stands out by making interior and exterior doors that perform and present like furniture. The Kelowna shop’s focus is specialist doors, supported by design insight,…

When you hear the word influencer, your mind might jump to social media stars pushing beauty products or travel bloggers posting from remote destinations. But in recent years, the landscape has evolved — and industries like woodworking,…

Creating custom cabinetry requires not only craftsmanship but also the ability to manage a constantly shifting business environment. Material availability, customer requests, supplier lead times, and on-site logistics all fluctuate leaving…

Canada’s urgent need for affordable, accessible rental housing has exposed a disconnect between the architectural form of multi-unit residential buildings and the human experience of living in the spaces within them. Somewhere along the…

Called Superwood, the revolutionary product has up to 10 times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel and is six times lighter, according to the manufacturer. The material is engineered to withstand extreme weather, high humidity, fire, rot…

For many Canadian businesses, the topic of succession and retirement is a daunting one given how many are family-run. But it’s not always possible to pass the business on to the next generation. This is where an employee share ownership…

For many, showrooms are a challenging concept. It’s a huge investment of both time and money to create what’s deemed an ideal showroom for every kind of customer. When I hear of someone remodelling their showroom or updating displays, I…

Colour trends play a vital role in the furniture industry, influencing consumer preferences and shaping the overall aesthetic of interior spaces. In the year ahead, paint brands predict homeowners will look for colours inspired by nature.…

Delivering high-quality infrastructure on time and within budget is becoming increasingly challenging in Canada due to regulatory processes and permitting, skilled labour shortages and rising costs.

For many small woodworking companies, investing in a CNC machine marks a major turning point — a shift toward greater precision, consistency, and process optimization. Whether it's your first step into automation or a generational leap in…

When Shiori Ito stepped into her first woodworking class, she had never touched a table saw. At 28, with a background in environmental science and nonprofit conservation, she was, by her own account, the "newbie" among a group of classmates…

Trade turbulence has become a defining feature of the modern manufacturing landscape—and nowhere is this more sharply felt than in small- and medium-sized export-dependent businesses. In Ontario, members of the Wood Manufacturing Cluster of…